Spring-motor for sewing-machines



(No Model.) P. BRIGG-s.

- SPRING MOTOR POR SEWING MAGHINES. No. 455,468.

Platented July '7, 1891.

me N'onms verme co., mow-urne., msnmmn, n. c.

f hereby declare the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BRIGGS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPRING-MOTOR FORVS'EWlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 455,468, dated July 7, 1891.

Application filed March l2, 1891. Serial No. 384,844. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.'

`Be it known that I, FRANK BRTGGS,.of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvama, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Spring-Motors for Sewing- Machines and Such SlnallMachines; and I do following to be a full, clear. and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of this specification.

My invention has relation to spring-propelled motors; and it consists in the device hereinafter particularlydescribed.

The object of my invention is to provide a small compact motor of sufficient strength and velocity to operate sewing-machinesand such like small machines, the speed of which may be readily regulated to any desired velocity and the motor started or stopped by the simple adj ust-ment of a lever, and at the same time to provide a motor which can be l produced and soldat a comparatively small connections detached.

cost.

My Iinvention is adapted to be inclosed within a'comparatively small compass, as un` derneath the table of the sewing-machine, and its `casingmay be made to represent a drawer, the front of which can bc hinged to drop, allowing of access to the parts. The driving-pulley of the motor communicates the power to the pulley or band wheel of the sewing-machine by a band or belt in the ordinary manner, by which power is communicated to the machine. The regulating-lever is situated in a convenient position tothe operator, by which the ,speed may be instantly controlled.

machine of ordinary construction having my l improved motor attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the motor detached from its casing, showing the parts and connect-ion in detail. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the right end of the machine. Fig. at is aview in detail of a drum and vband brake, with vits Fig. 5 shows the vertical shaftof the left-hand spring-drum detached.

Fig. 6 shows the central vertical shaft. Fig. 7 represents the vertical shaft of thevright-hand spring-drum detached.

A A represent the upper and lower walls or casing of the motor secured together and in position by the end bolts or posts b. In the construction shown two vspring-drums D D are provided, one on each side of the center, horizontally arranged in Vertical shafts S S', respectively journaled in the walls A A. Each of the said drums D D, in the construction shown in the drawings, is provided Vwith two spiral flat coiled springs as', secured at their outer ends at the circumference and at their inner ends to the axis of the drum or the vertical shaft and wound up from the center of the drum. Between the springs on each drum is preferably provided a plate orY radiating arms to prevent the two springs from interfering with each other. The bevel gear-wheels G G are rigidly secured to the verticalshafts S S, respectively. The springs s are wound by rotating the small bevel-gear g, by means of a key or crank, in the proper direction, which, gearing into the large bevelalso the vertical shaft S', to which it is rigidly secured, thus winding up the springs from the center, the drum D being also similarly operated at the same time in the same direction by being connected by means of the central small bevel gear-wheel g. The pawlsp pengaging in the teeth of theratchet-wheelsR R', which are rigidly `secured to the 4gearwheels G G, hold the said shafts S S. The frame-work of the drums D D', composed of the plates P P and the gearwheels F F', which are secured together by the bolts f or by other suitable means, turns freely on the v shaft S il', and is driven in the direction indicated by the arrows by the unwinding ,ofr

thesprings. The combined force of the springs provided on each drum is communicated by the gear-wheels F F to the center small gear-wheel F2,which is rigidly connected with the large gear-wheel F3, both adaptedto revolve on the 'fixed vertical shaft S2, rotatingin the opposite direction to the gear-wheels FF and held in position bya collar c. From the gear-wheel F3 the power is communicated to the small gear-wheel H, adapted to rotate on the `vertical shaft S, which gear-wheel in IOO gear G', rotates the same, and consequently turn, being yrigidly afiixed to the large vgearwheel H', rotates it in the opposite direction to the gearwheel F3. Power is thence communicated to the small gear H2 and the gear H3, both of which are rigidly secured together, rotate onthe vertical shaft S2, and are operated in a direction the reverse to that of the gear-wheels Il H'. The sets of gear-wheels F2 F3, H H', and H2'H3, and also beVeLWheels g' and 7L, are loose on their axles or shafts and turn thereon, being held in their hori- Zontal position by fixed collars, shoulders, or pins provided on the said shafts. Pins or collars may also be provided above each of the said horizontal wheels on their respective shafts to prevent them from rising up and becoming disengaged from the gearing. From the bevel gear-wheel H2 power .is communicated to the smaller bevel-wheel 7L, similarly adjusted to its vertical shaftand adapted to rotate thereon, and from thence to the vertical bevel-wheel 7i', secured rigidly on the horizontal shaft h2, journaled in the journ al-bearings j, suitably attached to the casing. A belt, pulley, or grooved lwheel LU is provided on the shaft h2, which communicates the power to the small pulley or grooved wheel w', provided on the sewing-machine or other machine to be driven by means of abeltor cord h. A drum or band-wheel d is also rigidly provided on the shaft h2 as a speed-regulating device of economical construction, and a band b2 secured at one end to theframe of the motor or to a projection or dependent therefrom, as at b3.y The other end of the band b2, which is preferably metal, is secured to the end of a lever or arm, suchvas shown -in the drawings, or to any other suitable device for like purpose. As the lever L is pulled forward, the band b2, attached to the end of the auxiliary arm l, is released either partiallyor entirely from friotional contact with the surface of the drum d and the shaft h2 and pulleys allowed to rotate slowly or to full speed, as desired. Upon the lever L being released the spring s returns the lever L to its normal condition, puts on the brake, and stops the machine. A pawl Z' is provided on the lever L, adapted to engage in the rack r, so that the lever L may be retained in any desired position, the said lever L being pivoted, as at Z2, to allow of a lateral motion when engaging the rack r. The shaft S2 is rigidly iixed to the vcasing-walls. The shafts S S' are adapted and constructed to revolve in one direction only and only when winding. Consequently both of these shafts are also practically iixed shafts and act as rigid supports and bearings for the horizontally-disposed wheeis, which are journaled and rotate upon the same.

I have herein described a pagticular construction of brake device as a desirable construction; but I do not limit myself to this form, as any suitable brake device may be employed with my herein-described construction of improved motor which may be capable of regulating and controlling the speed of the motor-such as, for instance, the governor described in my Letters Patent, No. 437,280, issued to me September' 30, i890, or other brake or governor.

Although my improved compact motor is specially adapted to sewing-machines, and I have herein described it as applied thereto, I do not limit myself to such application, as it lnay be applied to many light-running machines or small lathes, &c.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. In a spring motor, revoluble drums, springs mounted in said drums,toothed gearwheels mounted on and connecting said drums with a common shaft and communicating the combined power thereto, gear-wheels provided on said common shaft, and intervening gear ing adapted to communicate the power to the driving gearing or pulley, a governor orbrake connected with the gearing for regulating the i speed of thc motor, and winding mechanism consisting of a large gear-Wheel provided on each drum, said gear-wheels communicating` with each other and with a single crank, substantially as described.

2. In a spring motor, revoluble drums, springs mounted in said drums, said drums loosely journaled on their respective sh'afts, said springs secured at their outer ends to the drum and at their inner ends to the rotating axis, large gearwheel rigidly attached to said axis and geared to the other drum or drums for winding simultaneously all the drums, large toothed gear wheel mounted onfeaeh drum, small gear wheel or wheels connected with the gearing on the drums, a shaft carrying small gear-wheels, said shaft adapted to receive the combined force of all the springs in each of said drums, gearing for communicating said force to a device t.o be driven, and winding mechanism communicating with each drum, connected together and operated by a single crank, and a brake connected with the gearing, for the purpose substantially as described.

3. A spring-motor having two drums, each IOO IIO

drum provided with flat coiled springs and large gear-wheels G G' F F', adapted to engage in smaller gear-wheels provided on a common shaft S2, and gear-wheel F2, provided thereon and engaging with said drums, and mechanism, substantially as described, for communicating the power to the driving pulley or gearing, and a brake for regulating and controlling the speed of the motor, connected with such 'mechanism and winding mechanism, substantially as described.

et. A spring-propelled motor for operating a machine, said motor provided with two drums, a series of springs mounted in each drum, toothed gear-wheels mounted on said drums, small gear-wheels connected with the gearing on the drums, a shaft carrying small gear-wheels, said shaft adapted to receive the combined force of all the springs of each of 5. A spring-motor having two drums, each drum provided with flat coiled springs, large gear-wheels G G' F F', adapted to engage in smaller gear-Wheels provided on a common shaft S2, gear-wheel F2, provided thereon and engaging with said drums, mechanism, s ubstantiallyas described, for communicating the power to the driving pulley or gearing,

band-brake device for regulating and controlling the speed of Athe motor, connected with such mechanism,

ally upon said band-Wheel and-Winding mechanism, substantially as described.

6. A springmotor having drums D D', gearwheels G' G F F', flat coiled springs s, provided on said drums, ratchet-Wheels R R',

small gear-'Wheel g, pawls p, small gear-wheels g' F2, provided loosely on vertical shaft S2,

adapted to gear into the large gear-wheels G' G F' F, respectively, gear-wheel F2, rigidly attached to small gear-wheel F2, gear-Wheels H H', rigidly s'ecuredtogether, gear-wheels H2 H2, rigidly secured together, said gearwheel H adapted to engage in large gear- WheelV F2; gear-wheel H2 adapted to engage in large gear-wheel H', beveled gear-Wheels band-wheel d, rigidlyaffixed to the shaftV h2,band b2, partially en-VK circling said band-Wheel, and lever L, and parts'adapted to operate said band friction ,h and h', said gear-wheel h adapted to gear into said largel gear-Wheel H2, --small gear` wheel h', rigidly attached to the horizontal shaft h2, journaled at j, brake for regulating and controlling the speed of the `motor connected with the gearing, pulley wfnd shafts, casing, and parts securing and containing said mechanism, substantially as described.

'7. Aspring-motor having drums-D' D, gearwheels G' G F F', flat coiled springs s, provided on said drums, ratchet-Wheels R' R, small gearwheel g, pawls p, small gear-wheels g' F2, provided loosely on verticall shaft S2, adapted to gear into the large gear-Wheels G' G F' F, respectively, gear-Wheel F2, rigidly attached to small gear-wheel F2, gear-Wheels H H", rigidly'secured together, gear-wheels H2 H2, rigidly secured together, said gear` wheel H Vadapted'to engage in large gearwheel F2 and gear-wheel'H2 adapted to en`- gage in large gear-wheel H', beveled gear- Wheels-h and h','said gear-Wheel h adapted to gear into said large Wheel H3 and small gear-Wheel h', the gear-Wheels F2, F2, H, H', H2,

parts securing and containing said mechan# ism, substantially as'described. Y

In witness whereof I have hereunto set myV Yhand this 1on1 day of Mamma D. i891.-

A i FRANK BRIGGS.

lV-itnesses: WILLIAM M. STEWART, Jr.,

VHORACE PETTIT. 

